The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-13

| connection with 1t. L MS Is Nlsldioh
of Providence that we are not Responsible
for. This is the way it is looked upon IN
the north, and surprise is expressed that
we should be so sensitive about receiving
help. NV explanations always we're that
the Texans were an independent, self-re-
liant people that never sent the hat around
as long as there was any hope of keeping
soul and body together, and that even the
noorest of them, under false sense OF
shame, refused to tell their condition till
they were compelled to. This l could non.
estly testify to after ten years OF
experience among them. | declared that
| if an freshman or Scotchman were to be
Gem PEELED to live on what they were
then living on that the world would
hear it in a very convincing way. That
| th:n was one reason L gave Tor the
trouble, the other interested motives.
When this terrible drouth is over the
world will know the exact truth and the
blame for the present confusion will be
placed where it ought to.
Thirdly beg that parties who may be
honest in their opinions, like the gentle
man whose reported interview is to. day
published in THE STATESMAN, but who are
| ignorant Ol JnG ICul ldCtO, WOutu NSupS
giving their expressions TO the public.
This does no good, but simply adds to the
confusion and cOmpels the counties IN dis
tress to appeal elsewhere for relief than
to Texas. | understand the county he
comes from, where they never depend
much on rain anyhow, and where the in
babitants are principally Mexican, and
where irrigation is common. He says he
knows nothing about the wants of the peo-
pie in the drouthy section, but he
puts the number o. the
destitute at 10000 The gentleman may
be perfectly honest, but what right has he
to his opinion after twenty-one counties
declared, in the most official manner pos
sible for them 30 do, that there were 3d.
600 now suffering cold and hunger. And
let me tell Judge Harrell that the num-
Der put is away down below what will be
found out on strict investigation. The
judges purposely put their numbers be-
| low the mark, 40 as to be sure against
attacks of the press: Judge Hendy, who
was sent here to get the governors in
dorsement to my appointment, and to the
action of the judges, told me that on
going home from the convention
and making stricter investigation
he found over a hundred families in desti-
tuition that he did not previously count.
Wise county was not represented at the
convention, and about ten others that
ought to be, and probably will be before
long. Wise was in orrespOndence with
n view to Joining the convention when |
left home. 1t is thickly settled county,
and am told, has large number of des-
titute families. call the attention OF the
public to the language of the appeal from
the convention, and here state
as my honest conviction that
there are at least 10000
persons in the drouth belt that ought to
be relieved at once from hunger and cold.
And fourthly.-I beg of the people of
Texas who can to do something at once for
those suffering people. Even if the legis-
lature will aid, it will take some weeks to
do it, and living men must eat or perish.
Food and clothing are absolutely needed
now-this very day. The people have
been living on starvation diet for months,
and some must go under or be relieved,
for all relief given is exhausted now. |
know what | am saying, and L am pre-
pared to make affidavit over
my statements. appeal to
the churches to take up collections
without delay and forward to the treas
urer of the relief committee, N. l.. Bar
tholomew, cashier First National bank,
Albany. | ask also that the ladies through
out the state organize and forward cloth
ing. Even partially worn clothing will be
gladly received by the committee and
properly distributed. Freight on pack
| IL 1, in, oil a.
dressed to the chairman of the Albany
committee-Hon j. r. Fleming. We
make this appeal in the name of God and
humanity, and if you will not hear it,
but continue to listen to expressions of
doubt as to the truthfulness. of what
say, then don't blame me, or
any one else, if charitable people
are called in to do what you decline to do.
] have no interest in this matter what
ever, other than than that of aiding my
suffering fellow man. At considerable sac
rfice, | have left my church and family,
at the earnest requesl of the
| Judges convention, to solicit
in Texas, or anywhere else l
please. | come first here and from this
city l send ont this appeal, in the belief
that the people of Texas will hear, and
do their whole duty in this painful mat
ter at once. There is no danger of doing
too much, even if the legislature
gives them the 100000 asked for.
1t is the conviction of those who are best
able to judge that round million, at
least, will be necessary before a crop is
raised. Let the whole people awake to
the importance and magnitude of this
burning question, therefore, of how to re-
lieve the quickest aud most effective hu-
man suffering at our own doors.
JOIN Brown.
p. 81 ask other papers to copy the
above and urge their readers to come to
the rescue of a very large number of in
dustrious, but unfortunate fellow citl-
zens.
FREE TRADE.